Unit 6 - Taxonomy and Cladistics

Question 1

How does Taxonomy group animals?

Answer 1

Taxonomy groups animals together based off of phenotypes, similar traits, and cladistics do so based on genes, which is more accurate

Question 2

Kingdom

Answer 2

Largest, most inclusive group in classification
Ex. Any multicellular organism is in the kingdom Animalia

Question 3

Phylum

Answer 3

Organisms that can look different but share important characteristics, like nerve cord or other important features
- Mammalia is a phylum determined by nourishing young with milk, having hair or fur, and a unique jaw structure

Question 4

Class

Answer 4

Group of closely related orders

Question 5

Order

Answer 5

Group of closely related families

Question 6

Family

Answer 6

Share a common ancestor and display the same traits

Question 7

Genus

Answer 7

Group of similar species

Question 8

Species

Answer 8

Organisms that can reproduce with each other and have fertile offspring

Question 9

Cladograms

Answer 9

Diagram showing time and direction of evolution based on genes

Question 10

Parsimony Principle

Answer 10

The simplest explanation for the evolution of an organism is the most acceptable